Page 8 of Textbook Defense

He didn’t remember the man’s name but knew he was the fourth-richest man in Toronto? For a moment Jordy was perplexed, and then he remembered Rowan was here on orders from Gem. “And you’re his favorite?”

If possible, Rowan slumped further. “I don’t know if he’s looking for a sugar baby or if I just remind him of his favorite grandchild, and I don’t want to know. I amactively avoidingknowing.”

That sounded like the best course of action. Privately Jordy was a little perturbed at Gem. Knowing her, she’d brought Rowan along to be sacrificed to the man in the name of charity. Then again, she’d done the same thing to Jordy, and he didn’treallymind. Except for Alana being present, of course. “What if it’s both?”

Rowan yelped and then covered his mouth, as though afraid he might give away their spot. “That’s horrible. Gods,why?”

To make you laugh.It had worked too; the mirth in Rowan’s eyes danced in the dim light in their cubbyhole. Sanna, his ex, would have called himboyishly handsome, with that slightly too-long hair that flopped over his forehead. Jordy would’ve bet he was older than he looked, but he couldn’t say how much. “Sorry.”

“Eh.” Rowan waved this off. “Nothing I haven’t thought before, even if I somehow had the restraint not to say so out loud.” But now he was looking speculatively at Jordy. “You know, we might be able to help each other out here.”

Jordy could guess where this was going. “I technically have two tickets.” Because he was a softie, and knowing there werekids in the city with so much less than Kaira, and so few people in their corner, made him hate the world a little bit. “So there’s an extra seat at my table. No Gem, though.”

Rowan grinned. “Under the circumstances, I think she’ll forgive me if I abandon her to play pretend boyfriend with you all night.” He paused. “Actually, she’ll probably send me a bottle of champagne. She’s made her opinions on my previous actual boyfriendsveryclear.”

“Subtlety isn’t really her strong suit.”

“Yes, that’s why we get along.” Rowan linked his arm through Jordy’s. “So, all right, are we stepping out of this alcove with our outfits disheveled like we can’t keep our hands off each other, or am I going to have to pretend subtlety as well?”

“If it won’t kill you,” Jordy said. “I prefer not to make a scene.”

With a put-upon sigh, Rowan twitched the curtain to one side and peered out. “If you insist. Looks like the coast is clear.”

“Then let’s go have dinner.”

Rowan led him by the hand out of the alcove. “Let’s havedrinks,” he corrected. “Then dinner. And we’ll make sure everyone sees we’re so besotted with each other that we couldn’t possibly notice them.”

Bemused, Jordy allowed himself to be pulled along for the ride. “Have you done this before?”

Rowan tossed a look back at him over his shoulder. “Why? Do I seem like some kind of fake-date slut?” His eyes were dancing again. “My parents threw a lot of intolerable parties growing up.”

They bellied up to the bar. “Intolerable?”

“Over-the-top. Very boring. Self-important.” This time Rowan’s grin was a little strained. “One learns to make the best of the situation. Sometimes that means having a little fun at Mummy and Daddy’s expense. Literally and figuratively. What’syour drink of choice? Since you’re being a public figure, I’m assuming no hard liquor.”

He just skipped from one subject to another like a fruit fly. “Safe bet,” Jordy murmured.

“So, wine? Beer? Coke? The blood of your enemies?”

A smile tugged at the corner of Jordy’s mouth. Something told him Rowan was far more likely to be the blood-of-his-enemies type than Jordy. “Beer.”

“Great. Light, medium, dark? Any allergies?”

“Medium, and no,” Jordy answered. Why was Rowan asking so many questions? Surely he knew Jordy could order his own drink?

“Lovely.” Rowan fluttered his lashes at the bartender—thankfully a different one from before. She didn’t seem impressed, but she did smile.

“What can I get you?”

“A couple of beers, please,” Rowan said with an easy smile. He unlinked their hands and placed a finger on one of the fancy menu cards in front of him. “Amber for this one, and the light IPA for me.” He leaned forward conspiratorially. “I prefer blonds.”

Oh, so that was the game. Jordy smiled ruefully in spite of himself and shook his head.

The bartender laughed. “I see that. Coming right up.”

“You are enjoying this,” Jordy observed.

“Oh,immensely.” The bartender slid their beers across the bar top, and Rowan thanked her and passed Jordy his with a little bow. “Here you are, darling.”

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